Number-lantern for automobiles.



FRAK C.. LAME, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

NUMBER-LANTERN FOR AUTQMOBILES.

Specification ofiLetters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed May 3, 1907. Serial No. 371,720.

To' all whom 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. LAME, a citizen of the United States.residing at New York city, in thel county of N ew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Number- Lanterns for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to lamps and particularly to a reversible lamp or lantern for carrying and displaying the license numbers of automobiles or like vehicles.

One object of my invention is to provide a lantern of .this character wherein the numbers shall be displayed upon glass or other transparent slides and illuminated from the interior, thus providing a number "carrier vhich shall be as readable by night as byv ay. A further object is to provide a numberdisplaying lantern of this character capable of carrying two different license numbers, either of which may be displayed at pleasure.

A further. object is toso construct said lamp that it shallbe capable of attachment to any portion of an amnobile, and may be easily adjusted to suit varices conditions of situation. f

My invention consists in therarrangement of parts and details of construction which are shown in the accompanying drawings and particularly set forth 1n the claims appended to this description.

In the said drawing, Figure 1 is affront view of the lantern. Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal sectlon. Fig. 3 1s a transverse section on line'-x, Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 isa detail in' perspective.

Like reference characters in all the figures indicate like parts.

The casing of my lantern may be of any@ desired shape adapted to'the purpose of di s playing a series of numerals, but I have shown it as rectangular, having a bottom plate 2, a top plate' 3, and ends 4 4s; Preferably this casing is of sheet' metal.

The front and rear faces of the lantern arev composed of grooved frames 5 'hinged to the casing either at the top, bottom or ends, I have shown them as hinged to the top plate 3 of the casing as at 3', and the bottom plate 2 as being provided withv catches 2 for engagement with the lower margins, of the frames, which thus form doors capable of being opened to getl at `the lamps inside. The frames 5 5 have each two grooves or recesses on their inside edges, the innermost groove 6 being for the reception of a glass slip 6, and the outermost 7 adaptedv to receive' a solid metal backing plate The glass slip 6 is provided 'with the license number displayed thereon in any desired manner, preferably the numbers being transp arent 011 .a ground of opaque or dark colored glass. In place of the glass slip with the numbers transparent thereon, it will bev obvious that I may use a metal plate having the numbers `cut out, so that the light may shine through. Preferably too, the fra me 5 is open at one end opposite to groove to `ermit the insertion ofthe glass into the groove, an 'opening at the top not being advisable for fear of the entrance of water.

The groove 7 is extended out through the top edge of frame 5 for the' removal' an'd insertion ol.' the backing plate 7. The bottom piece of lthe frame is perforated as at 7" to permit the escape of any water which may gather in the groove or behind the plate 7.

The plate 7 isvsoflid and is intended not only to shut off the light emanating from the lantern on the side on which it is placed, but also to 'protect the glass from jars and from stones which may be thrown up against it. It is provided with a spring 7 on its front to minimize any shock. It extends above the lantern. and inward. to forni a wind shield for the chimneys 9.

' 8 designates a lamp reservoir of any ycharacter suitable, which is adapted to be contained within the casing, and 8 8 are the lamp burners usual to vehicle lamps. The bottom of the reservoir is provided with the downwardly projecting hub 8 which is adapted to fit into a socket 2 in the bottom of the casing. This prevents any lateral os- "cillation of the reservoir within the casing, Vwhile the pivoted latches 4 prev ent any horizontal motion.

Located above the hurnersl 8 are the chimneys 9. These .consist of an inner tube 9 perforated. or open at its top, and an-outer surrounding tube Q1 closed at its top but perforated on the sides. This arrangement prevents the draft from `blowing down into the'lantern and blowing out the iights. Asl

before stated, the extension of plate '.7 also acts to deflect the wind which would other wise strike the chimneys during the rapid passage of the vehicle.

It is an object of my invention to provide l a lantern capable of displang either one. or a plurality of number-plates or slides and to that end I provide my lantern with means whereby it may be rotated in a horizontal plane to bringy either number to the iront.' 'This I. accomplish by swiveling the lantern to its support and providing a clamping' ineans for holdingl it in position where set. It 1s also very necessary that t-he lantern 'should be adapted to be applied to a variety of places and hence that the lantern and its .support should be capable ot being,` set at various angles to each other.

In detail as I have' embodied 'my invention, I provide a pillar or supporting rod 10 which at its lower .end is pivotally Connected to a strap platezor iron 12 as later deserilwd. The `lower end ol" the pillar is biturcated as at 10, in which is received the stem of' ay headed bolt 11. A pivot pin 1.1 connects the stem of the bolt to the pillar. A strap iron 12 is .riveted to the top of the lantern and through an: opening in the top of this st 1ap iron passes the shank of bolt 1.1., the head ol" the bolt engaging with the iron, thus formingl a swivel` permitting the. lantern to be rotated in relation to the pillar 10 or te be turned .on pivot pin 11" to any angle with the pillar. '.lhe sides of the pillar 10 at its lower end are llat to 'form a bearing for plates 123, 13%, whose lower edges bear against the upper face of strap iron 12. These plates are either made in one piece with the strap iron or separate. They are perforated as shown at 153i in the are of a circle, and these perforations aline with a hole through the pillar 10. A bolt 1-1 passes through the two plates and the pillar, thus holding thepillar set at any desired angle with the strap iron 12. The end ol the A,40 bol-t is shown as havingl a pivoted latch but it is obvious that other means maybe used to prevent the displacement of the bolt. The

upper end of pillar 1() is the same in eronstruction as the lower end and is attached to the strap iron 15 in the same manner.

16 designates the headed bolt, 1.6 the pivot pin of the bolt, and vl' 17 indicate the two side plates, and lthe holt.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown the upper ..50 strap iron 15 as attached by screws 1S to any' desired parts of the body of the vehicle, but in place of these serewsf-where it is desired. to attach the lantern to the `axle of the vehiole--, I may use U-sb aped bolts 15 whose ends pass through the strap iron and around 'the axle, and are clamped up tight thereto by the usual nuts.

The purpose of the swiveled and pivoted. lantern and pillar is to permit the lantern to be attached to any desired portion of the under body or to the axle, and the lamp set at the angle to properly display the numerals thereon. Sue-h adjustments also permit the lantern to be readily moved out from the vehicle bodyr for cleaning or moved away from was 1e.

the body so that it may be turned horizontally to display either one or the other ol the faces.

viren it is desired to change the laee olt the lantern, it is only necessary to take out bolt 11 or when the lantern mav he removed. The. plate T i t-hus proteetinpr the rear face ot the lantern and providing awind break as before deseri bed. i

It will be seen from this description that -my eonstriu-tion provides a lantern capabl( .of earrying the ln-ense numbers of two di'll'erent States, ol quick adjustment to display either of these numbers, and which may be attached to any portion ofthe vehiole.

Ilaving described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a license number display lantern l'or automobiles, a easing. a plurality ol numberearrying translueeut slides tor the sides ol`l said easing, a lamp within the easing, and a.

support tor said easing;l having an engagement with the easing l'or movement in horizontal and vertieal planes.

2'. In a lieense number display lantern l`or automobihis, a easing. a plurality ol' numberearryiinr translueent slides for the .sides of said easing', a lamp within the easing, and a support Vfor said easinpr having swiveled engagement with the easing l{"or rotation in a. horizontal plane, and. pivotal enmifrement with the easing lor movement in a verlieal plane. l

3. In a lieense number display hintern for automobiles, a easing, a plurality ol' numberearrying translueeut slides l`or the sides ol said easing, a lamp within the 'asin a` pertorated strap engagiinr with the, top ol`A the easing, a support 'whose end .is provided with a swivel engagement with said strap and elampingr means for holding the support set in any relative position to the said easing.

4, In a lieense number display lantern lor automobiles, a easing, a plurality ol' numbercarryingl tmnslueem slides for the sides oll said easing, a lamp within the easing, a support, side pieees upwardly extendingr from the lamp easing emgagine` with the sides of the support, and a detaehable bolt passing through the said side pieees and the support.

5. In a license number display lantern lor automobiles, a easing, a plurality ol. numbertarrying translucent slides for sides of said easing, a lamp within the casing, a support, side pieces ulnvardly extendin,r from the lamp easing and perforated in the are ol.l a cirele engaging with the sides of the support, and a detachable bolt adapted to pass through the perforatioi'is of said side pieces and the support.

6. In a license number display lantern `for automobiles, a casing, a plurality ol numbercarrying translucent slides lor the sides ot said casing, a lamp within the easing, a supis then inserted into groove 7" port having :i swiveled engagement at its" inver end \vith the upper side ot' the casing, side pieces` upwardly extending l'rotu the lani i casing and perforated in the are ol' a. circle engaging \vit h the sides ot' the support. and a detachable bolt adapted to pass through the. perl'oratious ot' said side pieces and the support. T. vln a license number display lantern for automobiles, a casing, a plurality ol' numbercarrying translucent slides for the sides of said casing, a-lanip within thecasing. yasapport having a pivotal engagement aty its` ovver end with the lamp casing for rotation iu a horizontal plane, and carrying at its upper end means, l'or attachment to .a vehicle,

`said support being svviveledat its upper end to said attachment and having pivotal engagement therewith for movement in a vertical ilane.

S.- n' a license number display lantern for automobiles. a casing having glass-inclosing frames on a plurality of .its sides. each ol" said frames having double grooves. an inside groove adapted to hohl a 'translucent slide, an outside groove for su iporting a backing piece. and an opaque bac ting .iiece adapted to be inserted in any one ol said outside grooves.

t). ln a license number display lantern forl automobiles, a casing. a plurality of numbercarrying translucent slides l'or the sides ol' said casing, a. lamp within the casing, a `support lorsaid casing having an engagement \\it h the casing l'or a. movement in a horizonsaid l'rames having double grooves, an inside f groove adapted to hold a'translucent slide. an outside groeve open at its top lfor supporting a bachi g piece, a. lamp within-said casing, chimneys projecting above the top of the casing, and 'an opaquebacking piece adapted to be inserted in any one of said outside grooves, and projecting above the top ot' the lantern .to the height-ot" the said chimneys, said backing piece being provided with,`

outwardly projecting springs.

In testimony where-of, 1 have signed in v name tto this specification in the present-ooi' l two subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of March, 1907.

FRANK C. LAME'.

Witnesses:

Faaomue B. WRIGHT, J. ALExAxDnii i ERNoN.v 

